Earlier this summer, Marianne Grenier and a team of her friends organized the "Stand Up For Newtown" comedy benefit after a string of fortunate coincidences connected her with comedians David Spade and Kevin Farley -- and ultimately with writer/film director Matt Berman.

The June 7 event, which featured comedians from Treehouse Comedy Productions at Edmond Town Hall, raised more than $10,000 for Newtown first responders.

Now she's done it again. Grenier, who lives in Newtown, has orchestrated another event for local residents impacted by the Dec. 14 tragedy in Sandy Hook. It's a Bethel Cinema screening of Berman's new romantic comedy, "The Wedding Pact," about college friends who make a pact to marry if they haven't done so within 10 years of graduation.

Berman will be at the Aug. 8 screening to greet guests and take questions. And though all seats have already been filled, the roundabout story of how this event came to be is something everyone can enjoy.

Q: How did you meet David Spade and Kevin Farley?

A: I saw them getting on the plane from Las Vegas to New York. I actually heard a week prior that David Spade had called Newtown Town Hall looking to make a donation; I remembered, and I wrote him a note on the plane. The flight attendant passed the note to him. She asked me if I wanted to meet him. I went to him and Kevin Farley was nearby and I just started talking to them. ... We landed and I posted a picture of me with Spade and Farley on Facebook.

Q: How did you meet Matt Berman?

A: A childhood friend of mine saw the (airplane) picture on Facebook and told me his friend, Matt Berman, is friends with them (Spade and Farley). I reached out to Berman and said, "I'm really hoping to put together a comedy show in town because of the healing power of comedy and laughter." As a Connecticut native (Berman grew up in Branford), he was most concerned with how the community was feeling and how everyone was healing. He asked them (Spade and Farley) both if they could do it ("Stand Up For Newtown"), and they couldn't because of scheduling conflicts. Then Berman said he was releasing another movie ("The Wedding Pact"), and was wondering if 12 of my friends from Newtown and I wanted to come to the world premiere in Madison (in April).

Q: So what is the connection between Spade and Farley, and the comedy show?

A: It was the starting point for the idea. I figured I would start at the top. I still had a mission to make this "Stand Up For Newtown" happen. I got put in touch with Brad Axelrod (the owner of Treehouse Comedy Productions of Connecticut) and he was so willing to do it. He's from Monroe and wanted to help out. He was on board right away and started with the technical end of it, securing the talent. All came on their own dime as a way to help the struggling community.

Q: What did the show mean to you?

A: I guess it was just mission accomplished. I felt so strongly about helping in some little way; I've been planning events for more than 16 years and this by far had the most meaning. The goodwill was just oozing. It felt so good to see all of the smiles on everybody's faces.

Q: Tell me more about the upcoming screening.

A: Matt and I stayed in touch and he said he was coming back to Connecticut, and basically went out of his way to offer this free movie. ... He asked if I could get any of the police and teachers (from Sandy Hook) involved who want to see this very lighthearted romantic comedy. So I called Bethel Cinema and spoke with Pam Karpen (a part-owner). She said she would be more than honored to host it at no cost.

Q: Are you hoping to raise money from this?

A: I just thought, let's just let the event be the event. It's just about the healing power of comedy. You never know how many people's lives you are going to affect. Just by being positive and by being kind, so much more can come out of life.

Q: Would you consider organizing another event like this in the future?

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A: Oh, of course. If the opportunity presents itself, I am always more than willing. I can't speak for him, but I imagine that if there's a venture that Matt has in mind, he would be willing, too.